A Guide to Giving in Berks: 25 Nonprofits to Know

Berks Giving Guide

Looking to make Berks a better place? Good news! There are countless area nonprofits looking to do the same. Be it through aiding women’s causes, medical needs, bolstering the arts, or even helping furry friends, there is no shortage of organizations you can join with to lend a hand. Here are just a few…

Families & Community

Altrusa of Reading-Berks County, PA

Volunteers unite their varied talents in service to others, achieving as a group, what individuals cannot do alone. Members enjoy networking at monthly meetings, area workshops, district conferences and more, and aim to make their community a better place to live. The current community focus is on literacy, with the newest project coming in the form of a pagoda-styled Little Free Library located in West Reading outside of Kids Cuts.

Bernville Area Community Library

The staff serves to connect people of all ages to all forms of knowledge (books, movies, music) and to programs that not only educate, but also inform, entertain and enrich. The library is committed to being a welcoming and safe environment for everyone.

City Thrift Shop

Providing Berks County with clothing and compassion since 1961, the store is a nonprofit with a mission: helping those who need it the most with free clothing and food. You can support City Thrift Shop by donating clothing and household items, volunteering your time or by stopping by to find a great deal.

League of Women Voters of Berks County

The purpose of the League of Women Voters is to promote responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, but it does encourage its members to participate in the party of their choice. Membership is open to men and women who are 18 years of age or older.

Mary’s Shelter

Mary’s Shelter provides residential and non-residential services for pregnant women and women with newborns in need of a supportive environment due to a lack of suitable housing or favorable family relationships. Donate online, view their wish list or join the Baby Bottle Campaign. Volunteers are needed on site to help with babysitting, organizing, teaching and more.

Mercy Community Crisis Pregnancy Center

The faith-based nonprofit provides biblically-based volunteer peer counseling and support services in the greater Reading area for women and men facing unplanned pregnancies. Volunteers are needed and applications are available for download online.

The Rudden Family Foundation, Inc.

The mission of the Foundation is to provide financial and material assistance to the homeless or those at risk of being homeless as identified through existing community-based charities in Berks. This includes means to acquire a reliable car, and household furnishings for individuals with few personal possessions. Volunteers and household donations, vehicle donations and sponsors for families are needed.

Safe Berks

Safe Berks provides a safe haven and ongoing support system for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The nonprofit’s advocacy and education programs increase awareness and promote the prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault, and all forms of oppression of women and men. A volunteer application is available online.

We Agape You Inc.

The organization specializes in housing projects and rehabilitation. Its current focus is on Housing First, which aims to eliminate the epidemic of homelessness by providing the homeless with rapid housing as quickly as possible, and then offering other services as needed. Visit online for an updated wish list, to donate or see what other volunteer opportunities are available.

Health Services

Abilities in Motion

With a motto of “Helping You Help Yourself to Independence,” Abilities in Motion aims to help disabled individuals live more independently. Workers aid in nursing home transition, Spanish support services and more.

Laney’s Legacy of Hope

Established by her family in honor of the late young Delaney “Laney” Brown, the organization engages in fundraising activities to provide assistance for supporting research projects and treatment options for pediatric high-risk cancer patients with the goal of finding cures and means of prevention. The nonprofit also provides assistance to children and their families who are stricken with high-risk pediatric cancer.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center

The community organization serves as the only blood provider to 22 hospitals, including those in Berks; only blood donated through MKBC is transfused at these facilities. You can help by donating blood, hosting a blood drive or making a financial contribution. More info is available online.

Unending Promise

The organization was founded in August of 2012 as a way to help children with autism throughout their adult lives. Unending Promise provides support and information, and works to offer meaningful and appropriate opportunities for individuals living with special needs and their families. Monetary donations are needed to offset costs to families.

Vision Resource Center of Berks County

Founded in 1929 by the Reading Lions Club, the Center provides services to prevent blindness and make it possible for visually impaired Berks residents to lead independent and productive lives within their community. Volunteers are needed to help drive clients to appointments.

Animal Causes

The Catworks, Inc.

The Catworks was established in order to enrich the lives of abandoned, feral, rescued and orphaned dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that are without shelter, food, health care and love, and to save the lives of homeless animals by providing temporary foster homes and ultimately, permanent homes. Foster homes and adoption center volunteers are needed and welcomed.

No Nonsense Neutering

The 501 (c)3 nonprofit provides high quality, affordable spay neuter services for pet cats and dogs, cat and dog rescues, shelters and also provides trap neuter return services for free-roaming cats. Other reduced cost services are available and there are no income or residency requirements to utilize services.

Zoe’s House

Comprised solely of volunteers. Zoe’s House is dedicated to rescuing homeless, neglected or abandoned animals from high kill shelters or from owners who can no longer care for them. The animals receive loving foster care, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation until they are able to be paired with compatible and loving forever homes. Volunteers needed in a variety of areas, as are donations.

Arts & Entertainment

Clay on Main

Clay on Main is a nonprofit art community and studio resource center teaching community classes and workshops in clay for adults and children, hosting professional workshops, collaborating with other nonprofit organizations to offer learning opportunities through art, and holding public lectures and events.

Mid Atlantic Air Museum

The nonprofit museum was established to ensure the professional stewardship of a collection reflecting the history of aviation and to enhance public appreciation and understanding of that history. The Museum’s collection focuses on the Mid-Atlantic region’s unique contribution to flight, but also includes a general history of aviation, including the military sector.

Reading Musical Foundation

The public charity provides financial support for music presenters in Berks County, music scholarships by audition and in response to financial need, and extensive music outreach, including programs in most of Berks County's public and parochial schools. You can make a financial donation to the cause with the “give now” button online.

Education & Youth

CONCERN – Professional Services for Children, Youth and Families

The human services organization is dedicated to providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health services to children and their families. CONCERN began as a pioneer of treatment foster care, believing that children placed into care should live in a traditional family setting in the community. You can help by applying to be a foster family or donating to the cause.

Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, Inc.

The organization helps people better communicate, collaborate and contribute to their workplace and community. Volunteers are needed to help with tutoring and to train in the English Forward Training Program, teaching those whose second language is English. Monetary donations are also welcomed, and the Literacy Council participates in the Redner’s Save-A-Tape Program.

VOICE Up

VOiCEup Berks creates opportunities for people to volunteer, learn and lead in their communities. Through screened and supervised activities, the nonprofit provides volunteers with a high-quality experience that fuels further action. VOiCEup Berks does this in partnership with other organizations, so working together to bring about long-lasting change in our communities. VOiCEup Berks is also an official affiliate of Youth Volunteer Corps, a national service program specifically for students ages 11-18, creating volunteer opportunities for youth to address community needs and to inspire a lifetime commitment to service.

Senior & Veterans Services

Keystone Military Families

A nonprofit assisting deployed troops, veterans and military families, with a goal of providing support to the military community while preserving their dignity. A Military Family Pantry allows those qualified to shop free for food, clothing, household items, cleaning supplies and more. Donations are welcome. Monetary donations are also welcome for shipping care packages to serving soldiers.

Veterans Making A Difference& Paul R. Gordon Veteran Social Center

Founded by veterans Doug and Liz Graybill, Veterans Making A Difference is a 501(c)3 nonprofit helping the homeless and veterans in need. Those interested in helping are encouraged to serve a meal for the veterans at the social center, meet them face-to-face and learn more about who they are helping and the new center. Monetary donations can be sent to: Veterans Making A Difference, 2412 Spring St., West Lawn, PA 19609.

6th & Greenwich Sts., Ground Floor, Reading

484.577.6898

Follow “Veterans Making A Difference” on Facebook

There are many great for-profit Berks businesses that make a point to give back, too! A great example is United Artists Salon & Spa, which developed its own Cut-A -Thon and fall festival, called Hope Cuts, held each October to raise money to support breast cancer research. Through the years, United Artists has raised more than $200,000 from the event. The salon also participates in Cut-A-Thons twice yearly with Penn State Berks to help the fight against cancer; provides Hope Rescue Mission with haircuts and holiday gifts quarterly; supports Mary’s Shelter; participates in the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program; and donates gift cards to help clients with fundraising efforts. For more about United Artists, visit unitedartistssalon.com.